Remembering Those Who Stand By Our Sides
April 21, 2009
I’ve always been a grateful, appreciative person. More so now that I’m a grown woman, seeing as my adulthood more than makes up for my childhood.
I tell my husband and my children that I love them, a lot more than I was ever told as a child. I know I’m doing the right thing when my sons are giggling and pretending to push me away to stop kissing me already Mooooooom! I know that sounds idealistic and silly, but it’s true. I want my kids to know that I am proud of who they are becoming, these perceptive and kind souls. And I sure want them to know they are unconditionally loved.
I tell my husband thank you all the time for going out to work every day, I’m grateful that he helps me around the house, and more importantly, that he is a damn good father and a wicked awesome husband. I think he loves hearing it, and it doesn’t hurt the kids any to see how much we respect each other.
I am a rich, rich woman when it comes to love, no doubt.
Today, Sam came to visit with her two boys. Carter and Hudson are freaking adorable and it’s beautiful to watch a friend be a parent and feel just how much she loves her kids. To know we’re pretty much the same as far as snuggling and kissing our kids (as much as they’ll let us) is comforting. I know I’m not a freak for loving my kids as smooshily as I do.
We sat in my living room and planned a trip to walk for Maddie in Indy on suggestion from Casey and it was funny because Sam and I both kinda said we’d have to talk to our husbands, but the truth is, we both knew they wouldn’t have a problem with it.
We joked about ‘getting their permission’ even though we have similar team-like marriages and neither one of really needed permission.
Both husbands discussed logistics (with us, not each other) and at the end of the day, the reason for going was clear and necessary.
Behind this community of bloggers, there are the non-blogging loved ones who stand behind our reserve to help each other when needed.
For that, for my husband, for Sam‘s husband and Tanis‘ husband and Casey‘s and Lotus‘ and Angie‘s and many more husbands (and wives, boyfriends, and girlfriends!!) who are not bloggers but often the subject of our blogs, I gotta put my hands together and say, Thank You.
Thank You for standing by us when we have our friend’s tears on our shoulders.
Thank You for telling us that stupid troll comment meant nothing.
Thank You for hugging us when we decided to close down our blog 87 times.
Thank You for listening to us blather on about our stupid plugins and visitors versus page views traffic and mothereffing code that mothereffing broke everything in mothereffing IE 6 which no one should be using and why am I designing for people who won’t get with the times, even though you have NO IDEA what the hell we’re talking about.
Because with you, we have been able to do so much for families who need us. We have said goodbye to people we have loved. We have raised money for children we don’t know. We have taken trips to meet complete strangers. We love other bloggers without even laying eyes on them. We have kissed the heads of babies we aren’t related to.
We have introduced our blogged-about children to each other and they’ve snuggled up within hours:
(Carter and Thomas, snuggled in Dylan’s bed watching Monsters Inc. this afternoon.)
It’s bittersweet that Casey, Sam and I are together in Indianapolis this weekend. Of course we’re thrilled to see each other. I wish it were because of other circumstances.
At any rate, for Maddie, we walk. I only wish I had gotten the chance to kiss the top of her sweet little head.
Please donate, if you’re able.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Hi Casey’s husband! Because if you don’t read this I’m locking you out tonight and not waking up when you throw rocks at the bedroom windoooowwww!!!!
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April 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 am
You are all amazing. That is all.
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April 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
I love that you guys are doing this. I only wish I could join! I’ll be there walking in spirit!
And Karen? I don’t think I’ve said this enough…but you are an AMAZING mother and wife. You truly are one standard I’ll always try to live up to! xoxoxo
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April 22nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Good for you! I’m proud of you!
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April 22nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
You are amazing. You really are.
And yes, there is a special place in heaven for the spouses and families of bloggers.
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April 26th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I don’t even remember how I clicked to you blog today but I am glad I did. Blogging has made me a better person because I have met some amazing people.
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